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| What If . . .? |
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How would you be today if you had been born to a mother in poverty with several children by different men? What if you had been surrounded by depression, anger, fear, hopelessness, and despair? How would you be if you had grown up in the middle of violence, drugs, profanity, and vulgarity? What if you had never known any other way to live, how would you be today?
I used to ask groups of men in the rehab where I used to work this question: How many of you have never known even one godly man, a man who doesn't cheat, lie, steal, cuss, get drunk, use drugs, practice sexual sin, or be mean to others? Sometimes 80% of the guys would raise their hand! How would you be today if you had never known even one godly man?
It is so easy to look down on others. But how would you be today if you had lived in their shoes from birth? Why would you be any different than they are?
Environment is powerful programming. True, a few people rise beyond the programming of their childhood, but many are stuck. How do the few make it? They have a positive example -- an encouraging mentor who offers practical help. A man or woman who is living a better quality life, befriends them and builds a loving, helping relationship with them.
America, however, is set up to separate people according to ecconomics and social status. People who desperately need the love and help of a positive mentor are kept away from those who could redirect their lives. There are millions of Americans who don't have even one neighbor or family friend who is any financially or socially better off than they are.
How would you be today if no one had ever helped you get a job or into a college? How would you be if no one had paid the money to buy all the advantages you had growing up? How would you be today if you had never had a friend or caring relationship with anyone who wasn't poor and discouraged? How would you be if you had never known even one godly, Christian person?
Many of us have had great advantages in this culture. We've been helped along. We have been handed opportunity. We have been loved, disciplined, and parented well.
Everybody in America is not so fortunate. Perhaps it is time we begin to cross some socio-economic lines and become close personal friends with someone who is caught in a negative environment.
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| To add a comment to "What If . . .?" |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| Amen my friend....Powerful words....And soooooo true ;o) |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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Thanks, Mar Jay.
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| Amen, st simms. I thank my God who renewed my heart into His. Who made His heartbeat mine. Who breaks my heart with His heartbreak, and who thus makes my feet His feet. May my heart, mind, and soul, and my hands and feet, my whole being respond more and more attuned to the heartbeat of my Lord and Saviour. May I not hesitate to be moved and to move by the things that move Him. |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| its not an excuse |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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Oh, Amen to this!!
The Lord is Who showed me the way, because there was my mother and no one else who cared! Jesus, and my mother.
If we show Mercy, then that is a good thing. I believe the Word that says we will not have mercy if we do not extend mercy.
We will never know where someone else has been!
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| April 14, 2009 |
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"Many of us have had great advantages in this culture. We've been helped along. We have been handed opportunity. We have been loved, disciplined, and parented well. "
We have a responsibility to preserve the culture that nurtured us and improve on it for future generations if possible. We need to appreciate what we have received and turn our brains on when voting for candidates who overtly signal an intention to subvert the culture that nurtured us. The question is do we have an attitude of gratitude for the 'values' we were raised with even if at times we breach them our have breached them ourselves.
Alex |
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| April 14, 2009 |
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| Some thoughtful comments. Thank you all. |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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| WOW your question is almost my child hood except my mom had 4 kids by 4 different men But God Planted a seed in my a long time ago to help me I had God in my life at an early age I got to go to church I snuck out the house to go with my friend I got baptized with out my mom knowing then when she found out I got kicked out. It was the best thing that could ever happen to me But thank you for sharing this its awesome and to be abble to share it is awesome thank you and AMEN to it all God Bless |
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| April 15, 2009 |
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| Brother Steve, What if Obama succeeds in making us a socialist nation? The giving to those that won't work and punishing those that do. There are many that refuse to improve their life's situations, I went to school with a guy that was very smart that chooses to live under a bridge and not work. His job is holding up a card broad sign begging for help, not applying for jobs that involve working with his hands. |
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| April 16, 2009 |
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| Jesus reached out to the poor and marginalized and is calling us to do the same. Yet we must not allow our difficult circumstances to be an excuse for demanding special treatment, either. God's grace is for everyone and those of us who know it are called to let others know. |
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